Career Opportunity

Arborist Technician - Natural Resources & Lands Management Division - SFPUC (3434)

Recruitment: RTF0118760-01148853

Published: March 31, 2023

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About:

August 29, 2022: Re-posting the announcement to expand the pool of candidates. No need to reapply for candidates who have previously applied.

• Application Opening: January 27, 2022
• Application Filing Deadline: March 31, 2023
• Analyst Name:  Brandon Bradley
• Annual Salary: $79,040 - $108,290

APPOINTMENT TYPE: Permanent Exempt: This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process and shall serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. 

• The duration of the appointment shall not exceed 36 months. 

WHO ARE WE? 

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)

Headquartered in San Francisco, we have 2,300 employees operating across eight counties serving more than 2.7 million customers in the San Francisco Bay Area – 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Our Mission: To provide our customers with high quality, efficient, and reliable water, power, and wastewater services in a manner that values environmental and community interests and sustains the resources entrusted to our care.

Our Vision: We are an innovative utility leader, recognized for excellent results in service, safety, stewardship, and inclusiveness.

We are an award-winning and industry-leading utilities organization committed to our customers, community interests, and the environment. To learn more about our organization, please visit our website at https://www.sfpuc.org/.

We are proud of our infrastructure and programs, but most importantly, we value our highly qualified and dedicated workforce which ensures that this vision becomes a reality. 
To learn more about working at the SFPUC, visit our career site at https://www.sfpuc.org/about-us/careers-sfpuc

Role description

Project Name: Laguna Honda Fire Mitigation and Fuel Reduction Project 

Job Description:

Under general supervision, performs duties involving the maintenance and removal of trees and other vegetation and performs related duties as required. The essential functions of this class include climbing up trees and/or using aerial lift equipment to reach dead, damaged or unwanted limbs or tree tops for removal and pruning, or for purposes of complete tree removal; performing various types of rigging with cranes, skitters, tractors and other heavy equipment; preparing brush for disposal, operating chipper and driving aerial lift equipment vehicles, heavy loader trucks or other required vehicles. Nature of the work involves exposure to a high risk of physical injury to the employee and constant vigilance to public safety. Positions in this job code require considerable physical demands, manual dexterity with frequent exposure to arduous and disagreeable working conditions, including inclement weather.

Essential Functions:

• Assesses and evaluates condition of trees and other vegetation; maintains tree inventories.
• Climbs trees to a considerable height and removes dead, diseased or otherwise damaged or unwanted limbs or tree tops; prunes, fells and cuts up trees; piles trimmings for pick up and disposal.
• Performs various types of rigging in connection with this work; operates chain and hand saws, aerial ladder truck, chipper, and other equipment.
• Drives heavy equipment.

How to qualify

Education:

Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent (GED or High School Proficiency Examination).

Experience:

Three (3) years of verified journey-level experience as a tree work professional. Duties must have included climbing trees of considerable height for the purpose of removing tree limbs, treetops or entire tree in accordance with safety standards. Experience in pruning trees from a ladder is not qualifying experience.

License and Certification:

Possession of a valid California Class C driver’s license at the time of application; AND
Possession of a valid California Class B driver’s license with no air brakes restriction is required within one (1) year after appointment.

Substitution:
Successful completion of an Arborist Technician Apprenticeship Program approved and registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Desirable Qualifications: 

• Possession of Class B license, AND
• Possession of Arborist Technician certification through the International Society of Arboriculture or ability to obtain certification within 18 months of appointment.

The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

Verification of Education and Experience:
Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. More information can be found at: https://sfdhr.org/information-about-hiring-process#verification

SAFETY SENSITIVE POSITION REQUIREMENTS: The City and County of San Francisco’s Substance Abuse Policy, in compliance with the Department of Transportation Omnibus Transportation Employer Testing Act of 1991 employing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, requires drug and alcohol testing for employees in “safety-sensitive” positions. This Class [3434, Arborist Technician] position qualifies as “safety-sensitive” as defined by the FMCSA and FTA regulations. The selected applicants for “safety-sensitive” positions will be required to pass a Pre-Employment drug test prior to appointment and shall be subject to Random, Post-Accident, Reasonable Suspicion, Return-To-Duty, and Follow-Up testing during employment. Prior to appointment to an FMCSA “safety-sensitive” position, each applicant who has participated in a DOT drug and alcohol testing program within the immediately preceding three (3) years will be required to sign a consent form authorizing the City to contact his/her prior employers concerning his/her drug and alcohol test history. 

What else should I know?

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the Human Resources Analyst, Brandon Bradley at BBradley@sfwater.org.

BB/PEX-3434-118761/01148853, 01147522

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.